Slovak - Hungarian cooperation to protect biodiversity

The Slovak National Agricultural and Food Centre (NPPC) in cooperation with the National Centre for Biodiversity and Gene Conservation (NBGK) has been awarded a grant under the Interreg VI-A Slovakia-Hungary Cooperation Program for the implementation of its project "Support for cross-border biodiversity conservation in ex situ conditions" (HUSK/2302/1.2/018, #Biodiverzity). Its total budget is 998 683,56 EUR, of which 798946,84 EUR is Community funding for the period from 1 May 2024 to 31 October 2026. In the Danube region, due to similar environmental factors, the established indigenous species share common characteristics. Both countries are facing the loss of native varieties and a significant decline in their populations as intensive farming systems become more widespread. Without conscious genetic conservation programs, these varieties could disappear permanently. Therefore, it is a priority for both nations to preserve and integrate the genetic material of these varieties into production. This call for proposals aims to establish the foundations for long-term cooperation between the two countries. By pooling expertise from different fields, sharing knowledge, best practices and innovative solutions, we can jointly achieve our objectives. The project will be implemented collaboratively, led by the Slovak partner. Both countries will contribute resources - financial, infrastructural, and human - to ensure the successful implementation of the tasks.